My mom visited a month ago, and just before she left I called her and said, “Mom?” The End.

No, that wasn’t really the end. I just like to do that sometimes. I said, “Mom? Will you please bring your recipes?” Then I batted my eyelashes and waited for her answer.

“Sure,” she said. And I jumped for joy. Because you see, my mom’s “recipes” amount to two enormous—like, the most gargantuan I’ve ever seen—three-ring binders stuffed with plastic sleeves that contain every wonderful, fabulous recipe she’s used since The Dark Ages, or at least since around 1968. She still collects and tests recipes, so her plastic sleeves are updated with modern, interesting foods.

So I have a confession to make, seriously. When I looked forward to my mother’s visit, all I could think about was getting my hands on her recipe binders…and honestly, I secretly had the thought, Maybe she’ll forget them and leave them at my house. Then, while she was here and I was tidying up the kitchen, I “absentmindedly” put the binders in my pantry so they’d be out of the way. And sure enough, when she pulled away from my house the following Monday morning and drove back to Tennesse, she did so without her binders. And I’ve had them ever since.

I’ll have to make my peace with God about whether or not I subliminally, subconsciously, maybe, sorta, kinda, willed her recipe binders into being left here, but boy howdy, have I had some fun with those suckers! One of the first things I zeroed in on was this recipe for Apple Dumplings. Emailed to her by a friend known only as “Donna,” it uses Granny Smith apples, Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, and…GULP: a can of Mountain Dew. Oh, and more butter than you’ve ever seen on this website, ever. I had no idea what to expect, but it looked so easy, I had to try.

The result? I had to throw the pan away. These apple dumplings were SO indescribably delicious, after I took one bite to try them out, I proceeded to take thirty-four more. Then I became racked with guilt, fear, and shame, and I took another bite. Then I tossed the pan into the garbage. They were evil. And they had to be destroyed.

For those of you with will power, though, these are really surprisingly delightful! The texture of the crescent rolls becomes something entirely different during the baking process: the top gets delightfully crisp and flavorful, while the underneath side remains soft and mushy and more “apple dumpling-y”. And the Mountain Dew, coupled with the obscene amound of butter, creates a yummy, sweet sauce at the end. Serve these beauties with ice cream (or, if you’re on a diet, a huge dollup of sweetened whipped heavy cream) and you’ll be left wondering how such ordinary ingredients can be so sublime.

The Cast of Characters: Granny Smith apples, Butter, Sugar, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, and a can of Mountain Dew.

Start by peeling and coring 2 Granny Smith apples. It doesn’t matter if they’re a little bruised and battered. My boys used these to play raquetball earlier that day, and they worked just fine.

Next, cut the apples into eight slices.

Butter a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. (Mine was a little smaller and I later ran out of room, so please don’t take matters into your own hands and choose some funky pan that’s too small. I’ll regret it the rest of my life.)

Now I want you to cast aside any preconceived notions you might have about refrigerator crescent rolls. Then I want you to open the can of crescent rolls and unroll the dough.

Just pretend it’s puffed pastry. And really what’s the big difference? (I have a feeling someone out there is going to answer that for me.)

In any event, roll up an apple slice in each of the cresent rolls.

]
Like this!

Now lay each one into the buttered baking pan. And let’s just acknowledge the elephant in the room: the black smudge on my left thumb. It isn’t mascara. It isn’t Sharpie pen. It’s grease from the underside of my tripod head, which can stick a little. I would have Photoshopped it out, but that wouldn’t be keepin’ it real, now, would it?

Now, melt 2 sticks regular (salted) butter in a saucepan.

Dump in 1 1/2 cups sugar…

And here’s the kicker: just barely stir together.

Also add in 1 teaspoon vanilla…

And barely stir. You definitely want the mixture lumpy and grainy.

Now pour the very low-calorie mixture over the top of the dumplings, making sure to thoroughly coat them.

I’m so pleased to be able to bring you healthy, low-fat cuisine. Makes me feel like I’m doing my part in the world.

Now, the recipe calls for a 12-ounce can of Mountain Dew, but I wound up using only one of these little ones. And by the way, aren’t these just the cutest little things?

So what you want to do is, pour Mountain Dew all around the edge of the pan.

I also deviated from the rules a bit and poured it down the center. But only because I was feeling dangerous.

NOW. Sprinkle the top with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes, watching to make sure they don’t get too brown. (You’ll definitely want them golden brown and crispy on top, though.)

And here’s what they’ll look like.

Now, when I first pulled the pan out of the oven, there was quite a lot of liquid sloshing around in the pan. This happened because I used a smaller pan than the recipe called for, and I had to leave out two dumplings. So if you use a 9 x 13-incher, you should be fine. I poured a little of the excess liquid into a separate bowl before I began cutting into the dumplings.

Oh, baby. Honestly, these are to die for. See how crispy they are on top, and how soft and dumpling-y they are on the bottom? That combination of textures is what’s so delicious.

Serve it with vanilla ice cream (cinnamon ice cream would be perfect, too), and don’t be afraid to top the whole thing with some of the sweet sauce from the bottom of the pan.

If you want to just drink that stuff with a straw, that’d be fine, too.

Ingredients

Preparation Instructions

Peel and core apples. Cut each apple into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan.

Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour entire mixture over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.

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966 Comments

901

kimi On Friday, November 27 at 10:57 am

There are plenty of comments, but I will add one more. Do try this recipe – it is to die for. It takes a boat load of will power not to gobble up the whole pan. They were a quick and easy and oh, so delish dessert for Thanksgiving this year. Thank you – yummy

902

Vicki On Friday, November 27 at 11:57 am

I love this post! I, too, hijacked my mother’s recipe binder about 3 months ago, intending to scan it when she was out of town. Except, I forgot to return it, and she got into a panic, thinking it was gone forever. Oops! Need to get myself a flatbed scanner, now! I want to capture some of her recipes for our family cookbook, which I started in the early nineties. I’ve still got it on disk, and intend to start a blog, going through the recipes one by one, and taking pics – this will the fam, and will make our recipes available to the rest of the world, too! I’ll have to look and see if you posted any other of your mom’s recipes – wanna fix this one for Mr. Bunny, who loves apple anything!

903

Angela On Saturday, November 28 at 5:46 pm

I just made half this recipe with Sparkling Cider (left over from Thanksgiving) in place of the Mt. Dew. Yummm!

904

Tatiana SA On Thursday, December 10 at 12:32 pm

We have no Mountain Dew here in Brazil, what do you think I could use instead: Seven Up or some lime soda maybe…

These are amazing, truly amazing! I have made them several times and my very picky 6 year old daughter L-O-V-E’s these, she could smell them from the bus stop the first time I made them and now she has wants these for her birthday instead of birthday cake! Truly delish!

907

maria stephens On Wednesday, December 16 at 9:33 am

Well let me tell you… This was a H I T! so much so that what ever was left after the buzzards descended my daughter took home with her.
Now I had a job ahead of me. My Marlboro man (ok so there is lots of snow on the roof and we look more like the Micheline weeble wabble family but whos counting right?) is diabetic so i set out to make a diabetic friendlier version of this little jewel and it turned out great.
I cut back the sugar to 1/2 c, compensated with 20 splenda envelopes (use the contents, throw away the yellow part ok? just saying…)
I used 1/4c sugar for the sauce and the other 1/4 to sprinkle on top.
Instead of MD I used Fresca. What a great idea! it gave the dessert a slightly citrussy background that was great. BTW 12oz of Fresca was too much so next time I will do as you did and use 6oz
Thank you for posting this recipe and whoever came up with it YOU ARE A GENIUS!!

908

S On Thursday, December 17 at 5:16 pm

OMG! These were amazing and so easy to make. I pulled them from the oven and let them sit about 5 minutes before I dug in. Couldn’t stand it any longer than that. Crispy on top, gooey on bottom…heavenly. Now I just gotta avoid devouring them all by myself.

Just had this recipe at a Christmas breakfast at school. They are absolutely delicious! The top was tender yet golden, the apples were so good with the sauce. I will be making this for one of my Christmas desserts!

910

alison On Monday, December 21 at 2:42 pm

I made these for my mom’s birthday a few weeks ago! a HUGE HIT! we are making them again for christmas this week! thanks for all the great receipes!!!!

911

Glenda On Thursday, December 24 at 4:37 pm

Ree, I just had to send you my recipe for apple dumplings which is similar to yours, but far more calorie conscious and very good. Use 2 large Red Delicious apples–peeled & quartered, 1 pkg crescent rolls. For syrup, use 1 C. water, 3/3 cup sugar and 1/2 stick butter/margerine–boil to make syrup. roll up apples in crescent rolls. sprinkle with cinnamon/nutmeg mixture, and bake at 375 for 30 min or until brown. I got this from my ministers wife. Delicious

912

Natalie On Monday, December 28 at 9:22 pm

My cousin made these for our Christmas dinner & they were DELICIOUS! I had to come find the recipe!!

913

Ginger On Wednesday, December 30 at 2:46 pm

For my son’s 30th birthday dinner (and to soothe my soul that I had a 30 year old son), I made your Apple Dumplings. Chose this recipe because I had the ingredients on hand and it looked so easy. OH MY GOODNESS, what an absolutely deliciously divinely sinful dish. We ALL loved it. Thankfully, in western Kentucky it is politically correct to lick the dish. : 0 )

914

Kerri On Saturday, January 2 at 9:14 pm

WOW! They are Fantastic!! (and easy)

915

Sarah On Saturday, January 2 at 9:51 pm

Yum. Yum yum yum. I’ve made these several times and they are always raved over. Last week, before Christmas, I took a pan to my parents’ house for breakfast, and my parents were about to break out the vanilla ice cream. For breakfast. My sister and I were watching each other closely to determine the magic number of these consumed before you just explode…so far it’s higher than four at a single sitting, but experimental trials are ongoing!

I usually use three apples and cut them into six pieces each (yes obviously there will be two slices left to snack on, all you math nerds). I don’t bother peeling them, unless I’ve already taken the peel to use for packaging cookies for shipping. The hubby is diabetic and has high cholesterol, so I use half the butter, 3/4 cup Splenda, reduced-fat crescent roll dough, and 4-6 ounces of diet Mt. Dew, and they really taste no different. I am usually SUPER-sensitive to the taste of Splenda, and I can’t tell at all.

916

Miranda On Monday, January 4 at 10:39 am

Made these last night with your beef and mushroom stew, hubby said it was the best dessert I’d ever made ” ) Very, very yummy!

917

Karen Kelly On Friday, January 8 at 7:34 pm

I’ve just found this recipe and it’s midnight. I can’t believe I have to wait until the morning to go out and buy the crescent rolls. I’m pretty sure I can get away with this as I’m pregnant but after the baby’s born I’ll have to combine some advice given earlier and stick to diet soda and 2 pieces of apple per roll -then it’ll be extra healthy, won’t it?
Anyway if I like it I’ll be adding this to my ‘binger’ (I am so going to call it that now.) which is plain black but inside is a treasure trove of torn out from magazine recipes and scribbled down on whatever was handy recipes and some internet print outs but I just don’t like the uniformity of it all being typed out the same. I know that the best chutney recipe is the one that sticks out behind the others with a photo of some in a jar that I just tore out of the magazine.

918

Cara On Thursday, January 14 at 10:04 am

I’ve made this recipe about 4 times now..and everyone always loves it! I’ve passed this recipe, and your website along to friends and family.

I have “Coffee Friday” with one of my best girlfriends each Friday. The kiddos play and we drink coffee and watch Regis and Kelly. And tomorrow we will also be eating these dumplings.

Then I am going to make my friend’s recipe for beef roast with a Pepsi au jus. Then maybe I will make your Sprite-laden pound cake.

Then I will balloon to 600 pounds and have to be rolled up to bed. But, boy, will I be a-smiling!

920

Bethany Gerber On Thursday, January 14 at 12:08 pm

Seriously Ree,
You are so beautifull and have no fat on you, how do you do it when everything is full of butter!!? Seriously, you are my, “If I wanted to be someone else, I’d pick you, but I like me so we won’t trade:) ” You must work out everyday or have a really high metabolism.

921

Joan On Thursday, January 14 at 8:13 pm

My sister in law makes these and she’s gotten us all to eat them. They’re so good. Addictive in fact. Nice to see you and your mom make these too.

922

Linda On Friday, January 15 at 5:47 am

just simply love your site! Wish I could do nothing else than cook and bake =o) well actually…. don’t think my 4 kids and hubby would mind hahahah

923

KathyH On Friday, January 15 at 9:21 am

Okay, I confess. I’ve been ‘stealing’ recipes from your site for the past month or so and I’ve not commented yet. I’m here to make that right. My family has loved the Crash Potatoes, the Marlboro Man Sandwiches and other goodies. They say, ‘make more.’ This will be my next effort. Off to the store. (And thanks.)

924

Linda B On Friday, January 15 at 5:51 pm

Ree….How come ya do me thisaway? I cannot stand it I MUST make these and therefore send my measurements into the ionosphere.

925

Marilyn Lefholz On Sunday, January 17 at 4:14 pm

I just made these — yes, they are evil! But wonderfully easy and they have apples in them. That makes them healthy, right???????

926

Amy Thomas On Sunday, January 17 at 8:34 pm

Marilyn Sullivan On Sunday, January 17 at 10:56 pm

Made these tonight for dinner with the meatloaf and man o man, this was some good eating! The apple dumplings were out of this world. I received your cookbook for Christmas and plan to bake my way through it, of course my waistline and behind will be getting a little larger!! Love the website and the no frills, good food. Sure enjoy the step by step photos on the recipes.

928

Latasha On Sunday, January 17 at 11:23 pm

Simply delicious!! And so easy!

929

Tonya On Monday, January 18 at 4:56 pm

Amazing and so simple. People loved these at both parties I took them too.

930

Nicole M On Monday, January 18 at 4:56 pm

Made these this past weekend for a girls’ night in, and everyone had to have seconds! The only thing I changed was using Sundrop instead of Mt Dew. We loved them!

931

Stephanie On Thursday, January 21 at 4:17 pm

I used your recipe to cook apple dumplings for some friends and they LOVED them! Thanks for sharing!

932

Kathleen On Saturday, January 23 at 8:58 am

Costco has the “throwback” Mountain Dew made from real sugar-no HFCS!!!

933

Tundraberry On Sunday, January 24 at 12:16 pm

OMG!!! I made these for my best friend and her husband last night. So easy and delicious!!! Thank you for such a wonderful recipe.

janice On Monday, February 1 at 12:04 am

Oh my gosh, I just made it and it’s delicious! I was skeptical when I went it in the oven, it had all that liquid on the bottom. But when it came out it was gloriously golden and puffy on top and all the liquid was absorbed. Great recipe!

936

Teresa Dunivent On Monday, February 1 at 9:18 pm

My family has started to refer to these as the Mountain Dew apple things. I have only made it twice, but they loved them. Love the recipe. Quick and easy for a mom who works over forty hours a week and deals with almost 800 teenagers a day, buts wants to make something special for her own children.

937

Mary Alberding On Friday, February 5 at 11:19 am

Purdy Darn Good

938

Cassandra On Friday, February 5 at 6:23 pm

I JUST made these! OMG They were AMAZING!!!!!! Thank you!!

939

Alice K. On Saturday, February 6 at 6:10 pm

I just tried this and it was very easy to make. My family loved it and we finished it in one sitting!

940

meg On Monday, February 8 at 7:18 pm

WOW!!!!! these look YUMMY!!!

941

Erin G On Tuesday, February 9 at 9:13 pm

I make these but with quartered peaches instead of apples. Call them ‘Peach Enchiladas’. Peaches are also super yummy!

942

Hannah Coleman On Thursday, February 11 at 5:46 pm

HAHA! You are halarious! Drink it???

943

Ashlynn carpenter On Sunday, February 14 at 10:54 pm

944

Ashlynn carpenter On Sunday, February 14 at 10:57 pm

My 82 year old mother told me that no one could best HER mothers apple dumpling recipe. Just sent her a panful of these babies and she admitted defeat. Although it’s hard to even call them apple dumplings…they are in a sugar-butter daze of their own.

946

Niki Perry On Friday, February 19 at 6:14 pm

these are also delicious if you use peaches instead of apples

947

Sarah On Saturday, February 20 at 10:45 am

Thank you so much for a cook book that you can follow step by step and have the pictures along with each step. Not that I am dumb but as age creeps upon us we do get in a hurry and a little forgetful. I have on occasion left out some things in my time. Like when I made pecan pie which I make for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I left out the sugar. Now tell me how can you forget something as important as that, especially in a Pecan Pie. Now I can go and do this technique with the pictures on each of my hand me down recipes that are irreplaceable. I have one that is dated back to 1919 that I still make ever holiday. This way I know that I can successfully hand down the family recipes with confidence knowing that they will continue on and enjoyed. I know you cherish your Mom’s collection. What a treasure to pass down, and I hope I can do the same with mine.
I so enjoy your pictures and your humor. Thanks for lifting my spirits.

Just made this and it is SO GOOD! It’s also very easy and fast-I made it with the “help” of a 2-year-old and a 9-month-old and it still didn’t take long!

949

Leslie in N CA On Saturday, February 20 at 9:31 pm

How in the name of god do you not weigh 300 pounds?!?!?
I’m not going to try these because I’m afraid they’d just be too good.
Yeah, right… I’m buying the ingredients tomorrow morning when I go shopping!

950

Suzanne On Sunday, February 21 at 5:22 pm

I love this recipe. I haven’t made it yet, but I really do love it. Love, love, love.

951

mcl2008 On Monday, February 22 at 1:24 pm

Making this for the second time, it’s so yummy I did 1/4 apple slices instead of 1/8ths though, as I wanted to actually taste the apple in there. I also tried using a little less Mt. Dew this time, so we’ll see how that goes

953

Erika On Monday, February 22 at 3:03 pm

My MIL wanted to try this recipe for Thanksgiving last year, and I was given the task. These turned out delicious! We added a few cranberries before baking just to add a holiday touch. I think they are even better then next day.

954

Nicole On Monday, February 22 at 11:16 pm

My family has and Apple Dumpling Day tradition, every year the women make about 4 dozen plate sized dumplings (my husband says they’re more like pies lol) while the men watch football. It takes all day and a few bottles of wine to get us through but they are AMAZING! And I know I’m going to feel like a complete traitor for trying these but they just look too delicious! (Please forgive me grandma!!!)

955

Sherri I On Tuesday, February 23 at 8:26 am

Every recipe of yours that I have tried so far has been amazing! Lookie there, I can cook! I made your Apple Dumplings for a get together last night (also the pico de gallo and guac) — fantabulastic!! Love your words and your recipes!

956

JoAnna Barton On Wednesday, February 24 at 7:04 pm

This was an amazing dessert!!!!!!!!!!! Loved it!

957

P Powell On Wednesday, February 24 at 7:54 pm

I absolutely love tis site. Heard it this morning on Fox. Will be looking at this on a daily basis. I’m hungry right now for Apple Dumplings :>)

I just made these. They are to die for!!! Yum Yum. Thanks for sharing.

961

Tamara Thornquist On Friday, February 26 at 9:45 pm

Made these tonight (and made your Chicken Parmigiana as main meal – fantastic!), absolutely delicious! Thanks Ree, loving all the recipes we’ve tried so far! I’ve found a new favorite website!

962

shayne On Sunday, February 28 at 8:45 pm

P-Dub…ok I know you posted this recipe a looong time ago…but I just tried it today. I have two picky eaters in my family and one of them is my husband. The other is my son. Anyways…I made these babies and all I can say is SCORE!

Thank you so much. I’m a terrible cook and you have made these recipes seem so easy. I have courage to try them and I can’t wait for my next trip to the grocery store so I can try out some more recipes. Thank you for turning the kitchen into a place an outlet of creativity instead of a ball and chain.

Much love to you and yours…Shayne

963

mommajade On Saturday, March 6 at 10:51 pm

I just made these for dessert tonight…. I don’t even have the words to describe how incredible they are. I will say, I believe they may just replace my apple pie around the holidays….If I smoked, I’d need a cigarette.

Ree, I now worship you. Ok, well more than I did previously. My only disappointment now is that I live an hour from a grocery store and I only got enough crescent dough to make this twice….. Oh the horror….

964

patti On Thursday, March 11 at 6:37 pm

can’t wait to try these this weekend…has anyone tried them with puff pastry dough instead…I’m going to add orange zest and maybe some Cointreau with the MD…I’ll let y’all know

965

PJ On Saturday, March 13 at 8:00 pm

Made these today for church potluck – so simple to make and may I say delish !!! although I am not a fan of Mountain Dew so substituted it for Creme Soda and it was great – I think I might try it with Cherries when they are in season and use Cherry Coke – But love love love the Apple – Thanks

966

kerry On Tuesday, March 16 at 10:34 am

I had these at a friends house 2 weeks ago and I have already made them twice for friends and family, everyone raves about how good they are and I love how easy they are to make, thank you or sharing.